5 Seemingly Non-Essential Items Every Traveller Should Pack

“I so need a holiday right now!” a lament that is commonly heard nowadays whenever someone feels they need an escape from all the crap happening in their life. Travelling not only enables us to relax and de-stress from our hectic everyday lives, it also enables us to experience new cultures, savour unique and mouth-watering cuisines, enjoy beautiful scenery, et cetera.

However, with all the joys of travelling comes one pre-travel activity that most of us abhor – packing our luggage. Have you ever stared at your empty backpack, with the contents of your bedroom strewn around as if a hurricane just passed through it, not knowing what to pack? Yup, I feel you, give me a high-five! Packing for our travels can be a hassle as it might involve a lot of scouring and last-minute shopping for whatever we need. In the process, we might overlook some items that might seem unimportant at first, until you encounter a situation where you need them during your travels.

In the process, we might overlook some items that might seem unimportant at first, until you encounter a situation where you need them during your travels.

Hence, here are some items that you should bring along with you for your next getaway:

Flashlight

One item that many of us will not think of bringing is a flashlight. Many of us tend to think, “we are staying in hotels with proper electric supply, why will I need a flashlight?” Although that seems to be the case, it is always better to be safe than sorry as unexpected accidents and mishaps might occur such as a sudden blackout (quite possible) or a zombie attack (highly unlikely). Moreover, a portable hand flashlight comes in handy when you are exploring caves, trekking through the jungle at night, or simply to sneak out midnight rendezvous without waking up your roommate! You do not need a big bulky flashlight; just one that can light up bright enough for you to see will be sufficient. Oh yeah, bring an extra set of batteries too just in case.

Zip Lock Bags

One of the most unpredictable things that you will encounter during your travels is the weather. It can be bright and shiny one moment and rain heavily the next, especially if you are travelling in tropical climates. You should make sure that your items can withstand weather conditions such as rain and snow which leads to the next item on the list, zip lock bags. These often-undermined items are waterproof, proving very useful to prevent your electronic devices and important documentation from becoming wet. Moreover, zip lock bags weigh next to nothing and can fit in your bags easily, hence there should not be any reason not to bring them along for your trip.

Universal Travel Adapter Plugs

Universal Travel Adapter Plugs is one item that many of us tend to neglect while we are packing. These plugs are exceptionally important, especially when we are travelling overseas, say from Malaysia to Europe, and vice-versa. Countries in different regions have power outlets with dissimilar configurations compared to the ones we have in our home country, which means that we are not able to use our chargers and certain electrical devices due to the different build (which again, is another case of HELL ON EARTH!). These plugs can easily be found in most hardware stores and even online, so make sure you take the effort to include them as part of your travelling essentials.

Insect Repellent

No one likes to be bitten by bugs and end up with red splotches on your body. There are also insects such as mosquitoes that carry diseases with them which might cause you to fall sick during your travels (ultimate buzzkill!) Bring an insect repellent along to ward these creepy-crawlies away.

Extra Pouch of Money

I am sure you have heard of the phrase, “Do not put all your eggs in one basket.” Similarly, while you are travelling, you should not keep all your money in one wallet. Make sure you have an additional wallet or pouch of money with you so that you have excess money during emergencies, such as if case your wallet is stolen during your travels. The extra pouch should have enough money for you to afford a cab ride so that you can travel to the nearest police station to file a report.

These are some common items that most tend to neglect or have never thought of bringing with us while we are travelling. These items are inexpensive but they can play a vital role in making our adventures safer and less troublesome. However, it is always better to be safe than sorry, especially when we are travelling to a foreign land where we do not speak the language or know anyone there. Of course, you should also invest in a reliable backpack to keep the items mentioned above and other travelling essentials.

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